Just as I was going out this evening, I checked on the aviary, to find Mummy bird, who has 3 babies in box, dead and bloody on the floor. I checked on the babies, and all 3 are injured, have been attacked by another bird. Well, I freaked! Grabbed the nesting box, and was racing to my Dad, when I thought about grabbing Daddy bird, so I came back, grabbed Daddy bird, and a breeding cage, and raced over to my Dad, crying and begging for help

Anyway, the avian vet had knocked off by then, so I took them round to the local vet, who reckons that whilst it looks bad, they aren't that badly injured, and they should be fine. So, I went back to my Dad's and managed to feed one quite a lot, but the other two just won't eat. Went out, whilst my Mum and Dad fussed over them, when I came back they said Daddybird had listened to them begging for food and just turned his back. So, doesn't look like he's going to feed them, and these were the last babies, I can't put them in with others as I don't have any. I will take pics in the morning, I'm not even sure how old they are, but they are fully feathered, not adult feathers, but have down or whatever all over them.

 

How do I get the other two to eat? I have made the egg and biscuit mix as runny as possible, but no chance of getting it into them. I have never fed babies before, so I am so unsure, having just skimmed those posts before, not actually read them. I can go to the stockfeed place tomorrow and buy whatever I need, handraising mix or antibiotics (which the vet didn't give me) so please, help my babies

Oh hugs Lin, I am sure help in on the way.

I managed to get all 3 to eat a little bit last night, but this morning one of them is obviously dying. The most badly hurt one, and I am just sitting here holding him, hoping to ease his passage into the next life. The other two, well one is eating beautifully, and the final one eats a bit, but not that much. Still, they are both chirping away, and seem so much stronger than yesterday

Lin, email me at chirpy001@hotmail.

 

I dont breed, but I have a friend who may be able to help you. Because of respect of privacy, I cant mail me asap, and there wi;ll be some x posting, but she is the only person I know personally worth listening to.

So sorry about the little one. I hope the others pull through.

lin how old are the chicks

Hath, I'm not sure, as I didn't write down the date of their hatching. I will post pictures in a few minutes

Are you trying to feed them with a spoon or syringe? If you're not already i would try using a syringe as it's heaps easier to get the food IN their mouth instead of all around it. Seeing as they don't have proper feathers they sound like they're only about 2 - 3 weeks old so hopefully they'll take to hand feeding well. Hope everything works out for you.

I was wondering about a syringe Bea, I will buy one soon. Is handraising mix best for them? Also, when I mix up the egg and biscuit mix, I can't keep it warm, even long enough to get a second spoonful. Any tips, would be great

dont let them dehydrate that is one of the biggest killers

Hand rearing mix is definitely best because that's got a lot of vitamins and other important nutrients in it so it helps the babies to develop at a nearly normal rate. You should stock up on syringes, they're really cheap from chemists and you'll probably go through a fair few while you're feeding the chicks. Keeping the food warm is really easy with a syringe, get a cup of boiling water and put the syringe in that between mouthfuls. Maybe while you're only using the spoon you could put whatever you have the mix in in a larger container of boiling water, that should work.

Thanks Bea, it seems like the simple things are the hardest to think of. Mind you, I think I'm still in shock

When you've got a problem like this it's impossible to think logically. That's why we're all here, to come up with idea's for you.

Thanks

This is the youngest, the one who's not feeding well I've called him Pommy, because he's a whinging pom

and this is the oldest, as yet unnamed,

Aw! They're gorgeous! They look about 4 weeks old to me. To encourage the littlest to eat better you could add a little bit of honey or apple baby food to the mix, it'll make the food yummier.

aww lin, fingers crossed for you, that poor little pommy.

The oldest looks close to 4 weeks, put out a bit of seed to see if he will try it himself, if you can get one to eat alone it will help a lot so you can focus on the others.

Edited December 23, 200519 yr by Nerwen

Good Luck to you Lin! (and the little guys)

Well, I bought handrearing mix and syringes, and used Bea's idea of popping the container in hotwater. It worked a treat. Pommy just doesn't like cold food He takes 2 bites and then stops, I get a warm spoonful, and the same thing. He's had quite a decent feed, as has the other one. The other one is now named Pengy, as he waddles like a penguin Whilst neither of them have full crops, they have both had decent feeds, and I'm very happy with their progress. Fingers crossed, we might make it

Sounds like you're doing well! :budgiedance:

Great to hear Lin :budgiedance:

 

Glad things are looking up.

Lin all my best...(((Hugs & Hopes)))

 

 

 

 

 

.....Whinging poms..... :budgiedance: ........ :bluebudgie: sorry :oliveb:

:budgiedance: In case I offend anyone with that name, can I point out that my parents are English, and call themselves pommy b's, so it's not meant to be offensive :oliveb:

I've just had a look, and they are both preening themselves. That's a good sign, isn't it? I think they are doing very well, and seem very alert. The picture of Pommy he looks quite miserable, but he has perked up a whole heap. I feel a lot calmer now, and want to thank everyone who held my hand when I was really deserving of a straight jacket :bluebudgie:

:budgiedance: In case I offend anyone with that name, can I point out that my parents are English, and call themselves pommy b's, so it's not meant to be offensive :oliveb:

I've just had a look, and they are both preening themselves. That's a good sign, isn't it? I think they are doing very well, and seem very alert. The picture of Pommy he looks quite miserable, but he has perked up a whole heap. I feel a lot calmer now, and want to thank everyone who held my hand when I was really deserving of a straight jacket :bluebudgie:

 

 

Great to hear that the little one is getting better. Did you find out who attacked the birds Lin.?

Edited December 23, 200519 yr by daz

No, I have no idea who it was at all. Dad went back out to the aviary this morning, no more deaths or injuries out there. When I found the injuries yesterday, I didn't see any culprit - no blood or anything like that on any bird, and I did look, as I was looking for more wounded birds. So, I had no plans to colony breed again, but obviously I absolutely never would again. My thought is that the other hen wanted the nesting box. It could even have been one of the babies from the last clutch - they are all well and truly in breeding condition, and maybe they were looking to nest? I hope not, they are waaay too young. Well, there is no box now, so none should be doing any laying

I'm so glad the babies are doing well. :budgiedance: Keep us updated on their progress, a photo diary would be best *hint hint*. :bluebudgie: